Dates the “food of the earth”

Dates, the sign of love and rebirth

Dates, the fruits of the Palm Tree have been called “the food of the earth”. Dates were so widespread in the Jordan Valley that Jericho was known as the “fortress of palm trees”. The date palm, is a symbol of hope and survival.

The date palm is an exotic palm tree with tree port, spread in the tropical, subtropical or even Mediterranean area, in Algeria and Tunisia. The fruiting palm tree is also mentioned in one of David’s psalms in the Old Testament. Legend has it that St. Christopher used a palm tree staff when he led baby Jesus across the river. Jesus told him to stick his staff in the ground, and from it grew a Palm Tree, a miracle that led to Christopher’s conversion.

Upon entering Jerusalem, Jesus was greeted by the people with Palm leaves as a sign of love and spiritual rebirth. It is also said that the angels brought palm branches to Christian martyrs to lead their souls to heaven. Even today, Palm leaves are used at the great feasts, both in Jews, at the feast of the Tabernacles, and in Christians, on Palm Sunday and at Easter.

Vitamin and antioxidant-rich dates

Dates are among the highest-calorie fruits, and are commonly eaten when dried. Most calories come from carbohydrates, but also from proteins. However, dates contain significant amounts of minerals and vitamins, as well as fiber.

Dates are very rich in vitamins and antioxidants. The main beneficial constituents of dates are: Vitamin A, D, K, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, folates, pantothenic acid, betaine. The iron content is 4-5 mg%, and in magnesium 63 mg%. Calcium, 64 mg%, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese are also found.

Due to its high content of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, dates are ideal between meals, providing the energy needed by the human body and helping to strengthen the immune system.

Dates help control blood sugar levels, having a beneficial effect on blood sugar levels. Due to the low glycemic index, they are considered one of the healthiest natural sweeteners. Dates also have appreciable pectoral and emollient properties, favoring expectoration, tonic-nervine and muscle. They perform well in physical and intellectual asthenia and anemia.

Dates prolong life

By feeding only with dates and water, we have the opportunity to survive for years. Dates are extraordinary fruits, being known by the fact that they strengthen health and prolong life. They say there’s a group of centennial people in China who have their dates as their staple food. In any case, these fruits are very useful and are recommended to be eaten instead of sweet.

In addition to all these curative properties, doctors have determined that the low amount of sugar in the blood causes a considerable sense of hunger, but after eating only a few curmals, the hunger will disappear. Thus, the body will be fed with a small amount of food, which will prevent the abuse of food.

Dates contain 23 types of amino acids, which are not found in most other fruits. They are rich in tryptophan, very important for maintaining a normal mental state, especially for the elderly. Tryptophan turns the aging process into a slower one. It allows to some extent the aging process of cells. Due to the tryptophan content, dates have that slightly calming and sleeping effect.

Dates also contain a glutamic amino acid, which prevents burns due to high levels of gastric juice. Selenium, decreases the risk of carcinogenic and cardio vascular diseases, strengthening immunity. Thanks to vitamin B5, dates have the property to recover the physical strength, energy and freshness of the brain and nerves.

Experts claim that 10 curmals per day are enough to ensure the daily need for magnesium, copper, sulfur and half of iron and a quarter of the need for calcium. Thus, by consuming only dates and water we can live a few years. Contemporary medicine has turned its attention to this fruit as an object of long-term study and numerous benefits have been discovered.

Dates contain substances that destroy harmful bacteria in the human body. They are the cure and the preferred food for cosmonauts, being much more useful than caviar. Contains substances that help strengthen the muscles of the uterus, simplifying the birth process in women, making it faster and less painful. Dates help prevent pregnancy loss and enrich breast milk with vitamins.

Dates contain vitamin A, which improves vision, vitamin B, for the proper functioning and development of the muscular system and even improve appetite.

It is recommended to consume the dates in the following cases: mental stress, exhaustion and physical fatigue. Their consumption positively influences the brain, increasing its productivity by 20%, restoring the body’s power and energy. They have a positive role in cardiovascular disease due to their potassium content. Helps to fortify the walls of the capillaries, helping to lower blood pressure.

The beneficial effects for decreasing the side effect of antibiotics are known. Prevents and decreases the likelihood of blood clots, as well as stopping bleeding gums. Dates can be consumed as such as infusion of 50 g per liter of water, drinking 2-3 cups per day.